This Year's Word with Courtney Symes

The biggest decision I’ve ever made

We don't want to live in the past, but reflecting on past experiences and learning from them can be a healthy, cathartic process - especially if done with intention and gratitude.
This month, I'm going on a journey of reflection.
Over the next few episodes, I will be sharing some of my own reflections with you, to demonstrate how profound reflecting can be.
In this episode, the question I’m reflecting on is:
What is the biggest decision you've ever made?
This is such a significant question I initially thought I wouldn’t be able to answer. I have made so many big decisions in my life – from getting married, to starting a family and purchasing property…how could I just chose one?
So, I thought about the one decision that has had the greatest impact on my life, and share it with you in this episode. 
Grab my FREE Yearly Reflection Guide with Worksheet + 50 prompts here. 
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook. 

Exploring philosophy with Justin McSweeny

I often find it comforting to consider that many of the problems I encounter in life are not new or unique. In fact, there is a good chance many people have experienced what I’m experiencing before. Whilst our journey through life is unique, our thoughts, feelings, and reactions are what make us human.
This is the beauty of philosophy, which is the study of the truths or principles underlying all knowledge and being. Throughout time, philosophers have observed and documented common themes, questions and challenges faced by the human race, as well as our response to these.
I believe philosophy and wisdom are closely entwined. So, this month as I focus on the theme of wisdom in my podcast episodes, I thought it would be fitting to include a conversation around philosophy.
In this episode, I am joined by Justin McSweeny, founder of Illumine Life and host of the Idea Cast Interview Series.
We discuss all things philosophy, including:
What first sparked Justin's interest in philosophy. 
Justin's favourite philosophers and philosophical theories. 
The importance of words in philosophy. 
Why philosophy is important, and what elements of philosophy should be applied to our current society to improve our mindset and quality of life. 
Where to start if you're new to philosophy. 
Check out Justin's interview series, the Idea Cast Interview Series and Justin's organisation, Illumine Life. 
 
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook. 

How to become wise

What is wisdom?
How do you define wisdom?
How do we become wise?
These are some of the questions I will be pondering on my Wisdom Journey this month, and in this episode.
I had fun asking various people, including my family and children these questions about wisdom. And whilst the answers varied, there were some common thoughts and observations.
Wisdom is a quality that has been admired, sought after, and celebrated throughout history. Wisdom is something many of us strive for, but often without knowing precisely why.
Is wisdom merely the accumulation of knowledge and life experience, or does it transcend these elements?
In this episode, I will delve further into the multifaceted concept of wisdom to gain a deeper understanding of what it truly means.
 
Grab your FREE 30 Ways to Become Wiser Checklist here. 
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook. 

How to simplify your life with a plant-based diet, with Kerryn Sawyer

This month, as we focus on the theme of simplifying our lives, I caught up with The Plant Power Coach, Kerryn Sawyer to discuss how a plant-based diet can help simplify your lifestyle.
I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, where we talk about Kerryn’s plant-based journey to date, how embarking on a plant-based journey might be easier than you think, and we also share some of our favourite books.
Check out Kerryn's Weight loss guide, Whole foods plant based guide, and Recipe ebook
Connect with Kerryn on:
1. Facebook The Plant Power Coach (business profile),  Kerryn Sawyer (personal profile), or in her Facebook group Plant Based Weight Loss Support 
2. Instagram: The Plant Power Coach
3. YouTube channel: The Plant Power Coach
4. Email: kerryn.sawyer@theplantpowercoach.com.au 
Other resources mentioned in the interview:
1. Forks Over Knives: www.forksoverknives.com (link to the documentary on the website)
2. Nutrition Facts: www.nutritionfacts.org
3. Books:
How Not To Die by Dr Michael Greger
Fiber Fueled Dr Will Bulseiwicz
Atomic Habits by James Clear
You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook. 

To-Do List Tips: How to use your To-Do list to prioritise and maximise your time

I use a To-Do List every day, and I think I can safely assume most people use a list in some form or another to help them remember and prioritise tasks. There’s no doubt a To-Do list is a valuable tool for staying organized and managing your tasks effectively.
But have you ever wondered if you’re getting the most out of your To-Do List, or if there was a way you could make a list more effectively? In this episode, I will be breaking down my top To-Do List Tips to help you prioritise and maximise your time in a way that works best for you.
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook. 

Simple strategies to simplify your life

Often, life can feel complicated and overwhelming. A never ending To Do list, family commitments, work commitments, cooking, cleaning, exercising, and more...
Phew! It never ends.  
This month, I'm on a mission to dial things back to uncover what really matters in life.
I'm going on a journey of simplification.
In this episode, I’ll share eight practical strategies to help you streamline your day and find more joy in the simple moments...
 
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook. 

What to do when you’re feeling ‘blah’

In our month of grace, I thought it would be fitting for my final episode on grace to focus on ways we can get ourselves out of a funk or overcome a case of the ‘blahs’. These are the nine main things I do to shift negative energy when I’m feeling a bit flat. I hope you find some of these ideas helpful the next time you need a lift...
 
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook. 

What’s your next act?

In a recent interview, Jane Fonda shared her concept of living life through a series of “acts”. This analogy really resonated with me, so I break it down further in this episode. 
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook. 

The power of ”yet”

In this episode, I dig deeper into the concept of how we can show ourselves more grace by using one simple word...
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook. 
 
 

Why you need grace in your life…and how to find it

“Life is measured in love and positive contributions and moments of grace.” - Carly Fiorina
So, what exactly is grace, and when was the last time you expressed grace, or were the recipient of grace from someone else?
In this episode I explore how we can introduce more grace into our lives each day.
Check out my courses: Magical Mornings and Joyful Journaling Journey, as well as my book, A Year of Love: Finding peace one day at a time. 
Grab your FREE Journaling Guide with 100+ prompts here. 
Read more on my blog, or connect with me on Facebook.